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l(No Model.) C. P. HIGGINS.

TUBE SGR/ABER.

No. 272,437. Patented rl'eb.E 20, 1883.

VHJEEEEE: v Mw fw@ CAMPBELL PATENT OFFICE.

P. HIGGINS, oE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoH To THE BABOOOK 825 WILOOX COMPANY, OF ,NEW YORK, N. Y.

TUBE-SCRAPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,437, dated February 20, 1883.

Application led July 22, 1882. (No model vide two scrapers, each scraping at two pointsVV and pressed apart by an elasticv '15l in the tube,

force, with provisions to adjust such force within considerable limits. rI provide,further more, a simple device for holding the scrapers forcibly together, so as to be out of contact zo with the tube until the device is entered-in the tube, and it may then be easily released, and the elastic force brought to bear to urge the sera-pers against the interior of the tube.

vThe following is what l consider the best z5 means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

contracted condition, ready to be passed any 3o distance through a smoke-box or other chamber to the mouth of a tube, and to be entered into such tube without resistance, by reason of the two scrapers being held forcibly togcther. Fig. 2'is a corresponding viewof the 5 device after the Scrapers have beeuliberated.

, Fig. 3 represents a portion detached.

Similar letters of reference ,indicate corresponding parts in all'the figures.

Ais the stock, and A' a smaller screw- 4o threaded extension thereof. The stock may be a bar of what was originally square iron its length and screw-threaded. In the end which remains square are two holes, through 45 which are passed -long rivets, which secure two extended springs, B O, curved as represented. For cleaning tubes six inches in diameter the stock A may be two inches square and the springs B and C two incheswide and 5o a quarter of an inch thick. On the screw- Figure 1 is an elevation of the device in its.

reduced to a cylindrical form for about hall"` threaded portion A. of the stock is adjusted a piece, D, which, according as it is shifted in one direction or the other, relaxes the springs B C and allows them to be drawn together for scraping a small tube, or urges them apart 55 and adapts them to act with sufcient force against the interior of a large tube.

D is a nut by means of which the blockD can be set in any required position.

Near the ends ofthe springs B C areholes, 6( in which are loosely mounted the curved strips E F', which are welded, riveted. or otherwise firmly fixed on the scrapers E F. These vScrapers are curved, as shown, and sharpened chiselwise, so as to act efficiently within the 6 tube on the outgoing motion of the scraper at eachreciprocation and detach the soot or other lightly adhering matter which should be removed.

G is an oblong link engaging lthe straps E' 7V F together. When the scrapers E F are urged together by the hands or by any suitable apparatus against the elastic force ofthe springs B O, the oblong link G may be turned into the position showny in Pig. 1. Then, while 7 the link is thus held, the springs B O, and consequently the Scrapers E F, are allowed to move apart to thesmall extcnt allowed by the link. Their tension will hold thelink in place, and the device will be in condition to be in- E troduced into a tube, and by reason of the fact that the Scrapers are held close together by the turned position of the link G the scrapers will be easily entered into the tube. This condition ofthe apparatus is shown in Fig. 1. So t soon as the scraper is fully and completely entered into the tube, a violent twisting motion orjarring motion of the device being communicated through the stock A, which, it will be understood, is manipulated by Ineans of a tube l (not shown) screwed upon the threaded end, the oblong link G becomes loosened, and in obedience to the considerable force of the springs -B O the scrapers E F move apart until they strike forcibly against the interior of the tube. (Not represented.) In this condition the machine is ready to be used, being thrust forward and drawn backward and turned partially' around until all-the dirt is detached,

either falling out of the tube by gravity or lylto ing in a loose condition, so that itis easily removed by a blast of steam or by the natural draft ofthe due so soon as it is allowed to act upon it. This condition of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 2. lt will be observed that in Fig. 2 the link is shown in the position to give the greatest freedom to the scrapers, and consequently to allow them to assume their most expanded condition, while in Fig. l it is represented in the most contracted condition. The construction allows the scrapers to rock all that is required to adjust themselves to irregularities in the surfaces. Fig. 2 shows in dotted lines a rocked position of both scrapers.

Modifications may be made. The springs B C may be welded to the stock. The adj ustable piece D may be in various forms. A nearlyroundform mayservewell. Thesprings C and the scrapers E F may be varied in length, width, and curvature indefinitely. It is possible to employ four scrapers instead of two, in which case the additional springs are mounted in a manner corresponding to the two which are shown, but quartering thereto, and the springs are made a little longer or a little shorter than those here shown, so that a separate and independent link corresponding to G may connect those springs and scrapers and hold them temporarily together. when the device is introduced in the tube in the same manner as the link G holds the two which are shown. Parts of the invention may be used without the whole. I can operate with some success with scrapers which scrape each at one point instead of two. In such case the scrapers may be attached directly tothe ends of the springs corresponding to B and C. Doubleended scrapers may be used having the edges presented in opposite directions, so as to, by a reciprocating motion of the device, scrape the tubein both directions. It will be understood that the liberation of the scraperby the loosening of the link G may be effected by other means than a shaking of the whole device. Any means may be employed which will agitate or disturb the link so that it will nolonger hold the springs together, as shown in Fig. 1, butwillbe turned promptly,on beingdisturbed, into the position shown in Fig. 2, by the force ofthe springs. I can, for example, reach into the tube and hit the link G with a tool. (Not shown.) I propose in some cases to properly attach a rod by the movementof which to et'- fect such disengagement; butI do not consid'er such generally necessary.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a tubescraper, the springs B C, exerting a force tending to urge the scrapers into contact with the interior ot' the tube, in combination with the oblong link G, adapted in one position to hold the scrapers inward to allow the device to be inserted in the tube, and in another position to allow the springs to move apart and cause the scrapers to act ediciently, all substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

2. The double-ended rocking scrapers E F and connected straps E F', loosely mounted in the springs B C, adjusted by the block l) and controlling-nut D', combined and arranged relatively to each other and to the stock A and oblong link G, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, this 19th day of July,

1882, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CAMPBELL F. HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

H. T. BREws'rEn, BroUARn J. LENNoN. 

